intense game playing, ANZAC day, 21st & mining tunnels

on wednesday we had a girls youth leaders night and it was so great! we ate yummy desserts and played some of the most intense games i've ever played. we started off playing catch phrase. things escalated quickly. once each round was finished we had to let out a huge breath because you didn't realize you were holding your breath and take a wee break to let our heart rates go back down. the next game changed my life. it's called jungle speed. but it's probably only fun if you're playing with highly competitive people. which we all were.
mom, it looks like this if you want to get it for me :)

thursday morning carmen, logan and i went to the ANZAC (stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) dawn service at the mount. it's pretty much the same as memorial day back home. it wasn't super fantastic. for one we were late, two, it was raining, three, we couldn't really see anything, and four there were loud guns that went off which gave me a fright. but it's cool to say i've done it. :) most businesses are closed that day because it's a public holiday but we were open at the gelato shop so i got time and a half, yiyii! and it was SO busy, such a nice change!
jenni made the most delish traditional NZ meal for dinner, roast lamb with mint sauce with all the fixings, YUM. logan was here and joel and millie (carms brother and sister in law) came over for dinner as well. after dessert we headed over to laura h.'s to watch a movie.

the memorial on the beach

dawn rising

friday i worked at gelato another busy day and then hung out at laura's with the BBC crew, van, laura, carms, logan, and nic. we ate pizza, watched a NZ classic called Love Birds..was funny to watch a movie in their accent, and had a spa.

on saturday laura, carmz, loges, van, jono, and i headed to Waihi to walk through the old mines! first jono van and i made a pit stop to massive Martha, and active gold mine in Waihi.

martha 

check out this massive dump truck, puts the mine
in perspective

weeeee

cheeky shot with martha

we met up with the rest at Karangahake Gorge to go on our mine tunnel expedition. it was real cool. there were all these paths and we chose the ones that "a flashlight was recommended". aaand we didn't have a flashlight. it was such a weird feeling, opening your eyes as wide as they can possibly go but seeing absolutely nothing but continually moving forward just feeling your way along. 

Karangahake Gorge

a tunnel entrance

a MOST attractive photo of the crew..to be fair it
went from pitch blackness to blinding light for this photo..

oh heeeeey

toad!! 

this super long tunnel which was sadly lit, apparently not that long ago it wasn't.
would've been much more exciting if not. 

we carved our names in the walllll!

a better group shot: jono, laura h., me, carmz, van, loges :)

SUP.

we ate our packed lunches and went and got some icecream. and got it chocolate dipped. thought that was awesome until i tasted it. tasted like i was chewing on wax. YUM haha. then there was a bit of a mishap involving driving on windy roads, attempting to shake the chocolate off my cone out the window, somebody "helping me shake it off" resulting in it splattering all over me and the car. i really shouldn't eat icecream and drive. but hey i got us home safe :)
once back at laura's we went to play tennis, and while laura and van had an intense match off, jono and i attempted to rally. we made it to 30. that is quite the accomplishment you have no idea. it was painful at times and hilarious at others. next goal is the big money, 50.

that night it was a friend, Caleb's 21st birthday party. which is one of the biggest birthdays celebrated here as i've written about in an earlier post. but this one was legit. they had it at their house which is gorgeous, they have their own tennis court and a fresh water pool and spa. there were so many delicious nibbles and the drinks were in abundance. there were a few speeches and a slide show of photos, but the majority of the time was just socializing and pool/spa time :) a good end to a great day.

sunday was much more chill, i went to the beach in the morning to have some God time, a beauty of a day. and just relaxed until i went to city church in the evening and then we all headed to Wendy's after for some grub. :)